Plants For Ransom

06/02/2026

I went to the Reptile and plant expo Sunday 5/31/26. Check out my plant haul below!

05/31/2026

With the changing seasons, many enthusiasts of plants look forward to the arrival of impressive Boston ferns in stores. While these plants are visually stunning, as an indoor plant enthusiast, I prefer to keep my garden indoors. Boston ferns require specific conditions, including consistent moisture, high humidity, and outdoor environments, to truly thrive. Unfortunately, the climate in Missouri does not allow for outdoor cultivation of these plants year-round. Additionally, I have found that I have an allergy to them. However, for those who like the look of Boston ferns but find them difficult to care for, I suggest the Fern Leaf Cactus as a suitable alternative. This jungle cactus has thick, succulent leaves resembling fern fronds, unlike typical cacti associated with dry environments. To thrive, it needs high light and may require supplemental grow lights. Lower light levels can lead to weak and spindly growth. The plants grow rapidly and become fuller with proper pruning. This plant is very hardy and can withstand neglect. Even when neglected, mine remained healthy and vibrant. Watering is recommended when the substrate is about 75% dry, which in my conditions means every couple of weeks. I water mine by soaking the substrate in the sink and letting it drain. Depending on your conditions, your plant's needs may vary. My grow lights are on for 16 hours daily. The last
two pictures are my fern leaf.

05/27/2026

This sounds like a good time. I can’t make this one but if there is another one I am there!

If you are having difficulty registering online, you can contact the phone registration vendor at 1.888.283.0364. Event call center hours are M-F 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. This phone number is for event registration only.

05/26/2026

Are you a newbie to plants? Do you wonder which plants are beginner friendly? I’ll post common but problematic plants and suggest another plant that gives the same vibes but is much easier to care for.

Don’t buy: Prayer plants. Maranta, Calathea, and Stromanthe. Prayer plants can be breathtakingly beautiful and very tempting with their symmetrical patterns and vibrant colors. They can also be a headache and source of frustration to new plant parents.

The Cons: These plants often need more humidity than our homes can produce without supplemental humidifiers. Humidifiers ideally need distilled water, which leads to a higher cost to maintain. Prayer plants are fussy. They can sometimes have an aversion to tap water, giving the beautiful leaves crispy edges. Repotting can cause yellowing as the plant settles in to its new home. The main con is how prone they are to pests. Spidermites love these plants. Since these plants are heavy on foliage and with their fussy natures it’s hard to get them to recover from spidermites BUT it can be done. I’ll go over pests at a later date.

The Pros: They are stunning. They move and they are fast growers. Rewarding when you get the care down and grow a big bushy plant.

Protip: Higher humidity, a self watering pot, supplemental lighting and keeping the leaves clean can make growing these a success.

Buy This: Begonias are equally as stunning. There are so many different varieties to tickle your fancy. Cons: some variety of begonias are high humidity and should be kept in a terrarium. But never fear, the common ones you can get at big box stores are much easier to care for. Rex begonia and cane begonias are the easier ones. They will get lanky and less colorful under lower light conditions. They can also get crispy edges BUT with consistent watering they will do just fine. Self watering planters are helpful here too.

Pros: Striking leaves. Cheaper to get for a nice sized plant. Some varieties grow pretty fast. There are thousands of varieties with more created regularly. The leaves are shimmery and different textures. I haven’t had issues with pests and I have several varieties of begonias.

Protip: If they start to get leggy, prune them. They are easy to propagate. Then you’re able to plant them
back in the mother plant and create a bushier bigger plant.

Bonus tip: check carefully for pests. All
green houses have pests. and sooner or later
you will bring something home. Use your phone flashlight to search for webbing(spidermites), or cotton/powdery white splotches(mealy bugs). If a plant looks unhealthy to you, don’t buy it. Isolate new plants for a couple of weeks. Pretreat for pests. And place there away from
your collection but still provide good light. The most common pest is fungus gnats. They don’t harm your plants but they are so annoying to have flying around your house.

05/26/2026

My Hoya Compacta has peduncles!!! Pending blooms! This will be the first hoya i’ve gotten to bloom!

05/24/2026

Yes…. It’s called just what it looks like. The Boobie cactus or scientifically known as Myrtillocactus geometrizans 'Fukurokuryuzinboku’. You will find I have an interest in weird cactus. I am starting my cactus and succulent collection. If you have the same interest, we can learn their care together. Stayed tuned for more weirdos.

05/20/2026

Progression of a new leaf May 4, 2026 to today May 19, 2026. I did add a heftier moss pole for support. The janky one I had before was getting too small to keep the stem straight.

05/19/2026

My wonderful coworker Jenna left this on my desk this morning!

05/15/2026

I haven’t had time to post this week but here is a quick weird plant of the week. Haworthia Cooperii Variegata Truncata. The fleshy leaves are see thru at the tip! This is a new one to my collection. I removed it from the plastic pot, repotted it in a head planter and changed the soil to a cactus and succulent mix. This mix is mostly red lava rock and sand. Succulents fleshy leaves hold on to water, making it able to go extended periods of time without water. I will check succulents every two weeks after I water. I’m checking for leaf firmness. If it is squishy and a little bendable, it’s ready for water. Still firm? check back in a week or two. These plants will rot if overwatered.

Pro Tip: With all plants do not water on a specific schedule. Conditions and temperatures can vary according to the season and the amount of light a plant is receiving. A plant that needs water every 3 days in spring summer during the growing season, may only need water once a week during winter. This is when it is important to know the care for each plant in your collection.

Bonus tip: Plants need a period of darkness just like we humans need to sleep. I give my plants light from about 6:30am until 9:30pm. The period of darkness between allows the plant to process the energy it absorbed during photosynthesis.

05/09/2026

Hoya Sarawak. Hoyas can be slow growing with tiny root systems. But give them a trellis and they will grow faster. This is in A semi hydro pon mix. It has been in the same pot and same mix for 3 years. Still has original leaves. I need to check it to see if it needs repotting yet.